Reject all forms of violence – Assemblies of God

General News on Thursday, February 21, 2019

Source: ghananewsagency.org

2019-02-21

Ghana's Assemblies of God opened their first meeting of the Greater Accra East Regional Council calling on Ghanaians to reject any form of vigilance.

In a speech, Reverend Dr. Joseph KK Baisie, Regional Superintendent of Greater Accra East, said: "I urge all leaders, particularly national and political leaders, to defend the interests of Ghana and to collectively reject the vigilantism at all costs ".

Reverend Baisie declared that as a country endowed with modern democratic powers, Ghana 's reputation was at stake due to the activities of self – defense groups, the location of the incident. Ayawaso and the recent shooting incident at the regional office of the National Congress of Democracy in Ashanti (NDC). ).

"The state must prevent people from gaining access to weapons. Political parties must undertake to discourage their members from engaging in such acts by punishing offenders. "

It is clear that this issue is worrying and has required urgent national attention by well-meaning citizens, their activities posing a threat to the life, progress and development of the nation, he said.

He regretted that "the culprits and perpetrators have all been spared the burden of the law because the authorities have inadvertently protected most of them from prosecution".

Reverend Baisie declared that the ministers of the Gospel were not supporters but that they should deliberate and offer advice and prayers on relevant national issues concerning citizens, whose members of the church were an integral part.

Pastor Paul Frimpong-Manso, general superintendent of the Assemblies of God, reminded the Councils that the central theme of the church for the year was "Carrying the Fruit of the Holy Spirit," explaining that it was a natural progression the theme of 2018 to "manifest the gifts of the spirit".

The Reverend Prof. Frimpong-Manso asked them to dedicate all the programs and funds of the department for the purpose of 3,000 new churches by 2020 as part of the "Decade of Pentecost".

He stated that "we now order that any pastor who does not hold our credential papers be invited to any departmental program, at any level," explaining that a number of ministers had very dubious backgrounds, moving and using the name Assemblies of God for their own selfish purposes.

He added that the church had also ordered that the change of birth date through the swearing of affidavits be no longer accepted because some pastors had reduced or reduced their age either to avoid retirement, to make themselves falsely eligible for elections.

"So we ordered that anyone caught committing such an heinous act be fired."

Below is the complete speech of Reverend Dr. Joseph K.K Baisie

ASSEMBLIES OF GOD, GHANA, GREAT ACCRA E EAST OF THE FIRST MEETING OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL HELD AT THE CENTER OF RESTORATION AND AGGAR OF AGGAR, SPEECH OF REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENT SHAI HILLS

The president, the general superintendent of the bademblies of God, Ghana, the Rev. Prof. Paul Yaw Frimpong-Manso, Regional Superintendent of Greater Accra Region West, Reverend Ernest Birikorang, District Pastors, Department Heads, Diligent Gospel Ministers, Media Members, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I am delighted to speak this speech before this marvelous body. First, I officially welcome each guest and minister of the gospel to our first meeting of the Regional Council as a new region.

Mr. Chairman, throughout the protocol, such opportunities provide us with the opportunity to renew our commitment, both as ministers and collectively as an organization, and to consolidate our achievements. This is usually a time for critical evaluation of our efforts and work in the past years, as we also define a strategy for how to move things forward.

Mr. Chairman, this is also the time to deliberate and offer advice and prayers on relevant national issues concerning citizens, of which our members are an integral part.

I would like to state unequivocally that ministers of the gospel are not supporters or divisors in our work of advising political leaders, as some might suggest. At least, for all intents and purposes, we remain the conscience of society.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to address four areas related to events of national interest.

CORRUPTION

Corruption is a secular chancre. From the Garden of Eden to the present day, it has slowed progress, halted relationships, and destroyed individuals and organizations. Joe Biden, a former vice president of the United States, said, "Corruption is cancer: a cancer that erodes citizens' trust in democracy, diminishes the instinct for innovation and creativity; already tight national budgets, banning large national investments. It's wasting the talent of a whole generation. It scares away investment and jobs. "

Mr. Chairman, the catastrophic consequences of corruption are all too prevalent and far outweigh the personal benefits of the perpetrators.

I take this opportunity to join the fight against corruption at all levels of our society. The leaders of the nation since independence have all tried to eliminate this albatross.

vigilantism

Vigilance is a growing threat to the life, progress and development of this nation. Over the years, there has been a resurgence of studies on the use of these groups in the name of the security of political parties and their leaders. The culprits and culprits have all been spared the burden of the law because the authorities have inadvertently protected most of them from prosecution.

This is obviously a matter of concern that requires urgent national attention on the part of a well-meaning citizen of our beloved country. Leaders should discourage their supporters by allowing the perverts to face all the rigors of the law. Available statistics indicate that there is still much to be done to overcome this chancre. The recent issues of vigilance in the Ayawaso elections come back to mind. Just days ago, some people attacked the regional office of a major political party, killed one and injured many others.

As a nation, Mr. President, who prides himself on possessing modern democratic credentials, our reputation is at stake. The state must make it impossible for individuals to gain access to weapons. Political parties must undertake to discourage their members from engaging in such acts by punishing offenders.

I urge all leaders, especially national and political leaders, to defend the interests of Ghana before the interests of political parties and to collectively reject militancy in every way.

Ground guards

The issue of ground guards remains a challenge after so many years. Our system of land tenure does not help to solve this problem either. Lives have been lost and properties destroyed as a result of this. We call on national leaders and responsible state institutions to help combat this threat by imposing harsher penalties on offenders.

NOISE

Finally, Mr President, I make a solemn appeal to all churches to take a critical look at noise. Modern trends and changes in society's preferences have forced changes in the way churches handle noise pollution in localities. Recently, it was reported that two churches were fined by a court for excessive noise in their communities. We ask the churches to work to reduce the noise they produce. Our auditoriums should be soundproofed if resources permit. Otherwise, the noise level must be significantly reduced. The government must also allocate community spaces for churches and religious buildings to avoid conflicts with residents.

I would like to point out that, even if we take steps to remedy this problem, individuals must give up taking advantage of this case to attack or disrupt churches in the name of the fight against noise.

I pray that as an organized and responsible body, we will work with our leaders to help build a prosperous and blessed nation.

God bless you all.